Letters from the Other Side

4.1.5 Bridget Jones, Snow White, Eowyn and all the friends and foes

Fifth newsletter

1 November 2006

One of these days it'll be my 2 month Thailand anniversary. Wait a minute! It's today. On the dot. I'm enjoying myself so much. I've started making friends, so it's not "corner for the lonely" any longer but more like the TV series "Friends".

Everyone in the know warned me that the first few months would be difficult because the culture is so different and you miss your family. Plus you feel homesick. The first few weeks were a shock but I'm surprised at how quickly I adapted.

On Friday 6 October 2006 I had to move into a new place (the teacher's house that I share with two Hungarian teachers). It was very difficult. The place was filthy. But, like Mom said; true "boeremeisie" (Afrikaans girl) that I am, I pulled up my sleeves, grabbed the Jik (bleach) and scrubbed the place like my ancestors, the "Voortrekkers" (the Dutch Pioneers), would. Grandma, are you proud?!

I tackled walls, floors, windows, toilets, cobwebs and broccoli-like fungus trees that flourished in the fridge with the bleach. I came. I conquered. I overcame. Like a true South African "Snow White" without the ball gown. I am a little shaken by my European friends' standards but even more proud to be an "Afrikaner".

In the beginning I was all by my lonesome, just like "Bridget Jones" but without the warm, winter pajamas and Celine Dion to sing "All by myself" to me. The two ladies were on vacation and only arrived home about a week ago. I was very lonely and longed for company. Now that my slobbish, fellow-teachers are back they drive me crazy with their untidy and slovenly ways. I wish I could be alone and lonely again. You get used to it, though. It's amazing.

Luckily I made lots of new pals. Paula, an American of about 40 invited me to stay at their teacher's house in Cha-am for the weekend. On the exact same day that I moved into my new house. I was wet and sticky with sweat and cleaning products, the floors were lathered with soapy Jik (bleach) when Paula showed up and asked if I would like to come visit them for the weekend? (My place is in Phetchaburi. Theirs is in Cha-am, a sea town, about a 30 minute's bus ride from Phetchaburi.)

Paula adopted a "soy" (street) dog after he nearly got mauled to death by the other strays ("Because of Winn-Dixie"). It's survival of the fittest for the poor street dogs here just like in the movie "Strays". He is the cutest puppy, looks like a Staffie-cross and his bite is definitely worse than his bark. His name, alas, is Tex, named after that famous town, Texas, where Paula comes from.

Simon is also staying with Paula. He is 27 and comes from Quebec. (Brothers, shut up! It's not like the movie "French kiss".) You pronounce it "Ka-beck". He is French-Canadian and he promised to teach me French. Everyone is probably saying: "Thank goodness! Finally!"

But in the meanwhile Paula and Simon found themselves other jobs. They live in the south of Thailand now. They were dissatisfied with our employer too.

Then there is Jay, an American in his forties. He was very kind to me and answered all my questions. Jay says our employer is the devil itself ("The devil wears Prada"). Seriously. He worked for them for a year and a half but recently he also packed his bags and left for the Middle East like "Laurence of Arabia".